Dear YER_GURL,

It's important that she has a friend like you to count on during this difficult time.

Your friend needs to find out for sure if she is pregnant, and the surest way to find out is to take a pregnancy test at a health center. She can call 1-800-230-PLAN to schedule a confidential pregnancy test at a Planned Parenthood health center in your area.

It's best not to put off the test. Usually, the longer you wait, the harder it can be to deal with it if the test comes back positive.

If the test is positive, the best way to be a friend would be to help her know all her choices about her pregnancy and support her in whatever decision she makes. Remember, she has three choices: to become a parent, to give the child up for adoption, or to have an abortion. Counselors at Planned Parenthood are available to help her make the decisions that are right for her.

If the test is negative, the best way to help her is to encourage her to schedule an appointment at a clinic to talk about birth control options. She may also want to consider getting tested for sexually transmitted infections if she's been having unprotected sex.

She should think about the situation in which she had unprotected sex. What could she do differently the next time to plan for safer sex and avoid the stress of a pregnancy scare?

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.